Greenway had extra motivation Sunday

Chad Greenway’s numbers Sunday were, frankly, inspiring. That shouldn’t be a surprise, given his inspiration.

Against San Francisco, with his father, Alan, looking on, Greenway led the Vikings in solo tackles (10) and total tackles (13), sacks (two) and quarterback hits (two). He also had a tackle for loss. What a great day to have his dad in the stands.

“It was certainly fun,” he said. “For me, it had a bunch of added greatness. My dad was able to make the game.”

Alan Greenway was diagnosed with leukemia in May. Chad had to miss some of the teams organized team activities to be with his father who struggled with both the disease and the complications that came with its treatment. At the team's mandatory mini-camp in June, Greenway said his father's leukemia was in remission.

Still, Sunday was the first time this season Alan Greenway was in attendance for a Vikings game. Monday he was at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester for a checkup.

“It was huge to get the win (Sunday),’’ Chad Greenway said. “I knew I wasn’t going to leave anything in the tank, that’s for sure. Not that I ever really do. But you know, I wanted it to be special. Nobody in this building knew he was going to be there besides me. I’m just so happy the way it turned out. I’m happy the way we played. For me, it was important.”

Greenway said he dad was doing OK, but still had a lot ahead of him. "He's doing as well as can be expected right now," he said. "But there is a long, tough row to hoe. But he's doing well right now."

Greenway is off to an impressive start, leading the team with 33 tackles and tied for the team lead with two sacks.

Yakking about YAC

Vikings receiver Percy Harvin continues to make his statistical mark. Through Sunday’s games he is first in the NFL with 27 receptions, seventh with 277 receiving yards and ninth with 319 total yards from scrimmage.

And he remains best in the league in yards after the catch, with 153. He is ahead of Saints running back Darren Sproles (147) and Panthers receiver Steve Smith (138). Is that a point of pride with him?

“I don’t think it’s a pride thing,” he said. “It’s just me trying to get my job done. My play will come with a lot of yards after the catch. I know that. So I make it my duty to get every yard I can.”

Harvin mentioned that Smith was one of the players he modeled himself after as he was developing as a football player.

Etc.

--Harvin said as good as Adrian Peterson looked Sunday, there is more coming. “He’s still feeling it out right now,” Harvin said. “As good as he’s looking to a lot of people, there are still a lot of cuts I’m sure he wants to make. And when he does, we’re going to be alright.”

Matt Vensel is in his first year at the Star Tribune after covering the Ravens for the Baltimore Sun for six years. He is a Pittsburgh native and a Penn State grad. Follow him at @mattvensel.

Mark Craig has covered the NFL for 23 years, and the Vikings since 2003 for the Star Tribune. He is one of 44 Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors. Follow him at @markcraignfl.

Master Tesfatsion is the Star Tribune’s digital Vikings writer. He is a 2013 graduate of Arizona State and worked for mlb.com before arriving in Minneapolis. Follow him at @masterstrib.